Bandage wrapper

ABSTRACT

A bandage wrapper having a wrapper with a flanged section having two extensions defining a slot between them for bandage or other wrappable material insertion. The extensions are flared and allow for easier insertion of bandage or wrappable material. Additionally, the wrapper may be secured in a drill chuck or other coupling to a motorized driver.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The field is bandage wrappers.

BACKGROUND

Bandage wrappers wrap bandages using an automated spindle and a motor;however, known wrappers are cumbersome to use and difficult to operate.

Rodriguez, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,023, describes a sheet materialapplicator having a main cylindrical body, preferably open at one of itsends and presenting two peripheral projections and a means forattachment, at its non-open end, that allows for the placement of atubular part. On the periphery of the applicator's tubular part, the endof the bandage is attached and the bandage is wound around the tubularpart. However, such a device may need an adhesive element for attachingthe bandage to it during the insertion process.

Devine, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,779, discloses a portable, lightweight,hand-held bandage winder where the operator holds the winder in one handand locates the bandage on a shaft which may include a spool. However,the spool component needs to have a coefficient of static frictionsufficient to weakly bind the leading edge of the bandage in order toinitiate wrapping or requires the user to manually tuck the leading edgeof the bandage around the spool to initiate wrapping.

There is a longstanding and unresolved need for a bandage rewrapper thatcan be used by patients with limited mobility of one or both arms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bandage wrapper includes a spindle with a flanged section having twoextensions, the two extensions defining a slot between the twoextensions for bandage insertion. The spindle is capable of beingsecured in a drill chuck or other coupling device. The ends of theextension are flared such that a patient with limited mobility mayinsert a bandage or other wrappable material into the slot formed by theextensions. The inventors know first-hand the difficulties faced bypatients who must wash a rewrap bandage. One of the inventors is abreast cancer survivor and another is a technician at a treatmentcenter. Neither of the inventors were able to locate any rewrappingdevice that was suitable for use by patients with limited strength andcoordination of arm components. One advantage of the present inventionis the ease of engaging and removing a bandage on a spindle. Otheradvantages will be apparent based on the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings provide examples of the present invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of a bandage winder.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side-view of a bandage winder.

FIG. 3 illustrates a rear-view of a bandage winder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description and drawings provide some examples of thepresent invention, but the present invention should not be limitedmerely to the examples disclosed. Instead, the invention should belimited only by the claims that may eventually issue. Many variations inthe present invention, changes in specific components of the presentinvention, and uses of the present invention will be readily apparent tothose familiar with the field based on the drawings and descriptionsprovided.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, one embodiment of the bandage includes aflanges having two extensions. The extensions 2, 3 extend from surfaceof the flange 5 and define a slot for bandage insertion. The slot 1 isflared for ease of bandage insertion and retention. The extensions 2,3are prongs that may be capable of retaining a bandage between them suchas an Ace bandage. The ends of the extensions 2,3, are flared anddeflect inwardly when the bandage is wrapped under the pressure exertedby the bandage.

Ribs 4 may be provided on the extensions 2, 3, to stiffen all or aportion of the extensions 2,3. In another example, (not shown) thematerial of the extensions 2, 3 is selected with a stiffness such thatno stiffeners or ribs are needed.

The flange 5 features a coupling member extending from an opposite sidecoupling the spindle to a drill or an electric screwdriver or othermotorized device. (not shown). For example, the coupling member 7 may besecured in a drill chuck or coupling socket. In one example, thecoupling member 7 is made of metal and is press fit or molded into aflange 5, which may be made of a polymer, such as ABS (acrylonitrilebutadiene styrene) plastic, for example. The shape of the couplingmember 7 may be round or hex-shaped or any other shape capable ofcoupling with an electrical motor. The electric motor may be batteryoperated, as power requirements are modest for producing the torquerequired for bandage rewrapping.

The flange may have ribs 8. In one example, a plurality of ribs emanatein a radial fashion from a central hub 6. The ribs 8 may be used toincrease the flange stiffness, allowing thickness and materials havingless inherent stiffness to be used. Alternatively, stiffer materials maynot require ribs 8 for stiffness.

The direction of the rotation of the flange 5 may be reversed to suitthe user's preference if the drill or other motorized driver isreversible. The flange 5 may have a flared outer circumference 5A, asshown in the drawings, or the flange may be flat and unflared. If flatand unflared, then the flange 5 extends radially outward as asubstantially flat disk. Substantially flat means that each of thesurfaces of the flange 5 are flat within manufacturing tolerances;however the opposite faces of the flange 5 need not be parallel. In oneexample, the flange 5 extends radially outward as a substantially flatdisk, but the material of the flange 5 is thicker at the center than atthe outer edge.

FIG. 2 illustrates the flared ends of the two extensions 2,3 extendingfrom the flange 5. In one example, extensions 2,3 are formed by polymerdie injection as an integral unit with flange 5. Optionally, thecoupling member 7 may be molded into the hub 6 of the flange 5 duringthe same injection process.

FIG. 3 depicts another view of a bandage wrapper. In this view, theflaring of the extensions 2,3 is clearly illustrated. In addition, theends are tapered, making insertion even easier. The slight flare in theouter circumference of the extensions 2,3 helps to retain a bandage onthe spindle during rewrapping; however, it does not impede removal fromthe spindle after rewrapping is complete. Instead, the ends are providedwith adequate elastic flexibility, allowing easy removal from thespindle. For example, each free end of an extension 2, 3 may be providedwith a flare within a range 3-15 degrees from the direction of theremaining portion of the extensions 2, 3. Thus, under normal operationaltensioning of a hand-held battery operated driver, the extensions 2, 3flex inwardly.

Alternative combinations and variations of the examples provided willbecome apparent based on this disclosure. It is not possible to providespecific examples for all of the many possible combinations andvariations of the embodiments described, but such combinations andvariations may be claims that eventually issue.

1. A wrapper comprising a flange, the flange having a first surface anda second surface opposite of the first surface, the two extensionsdefining a slot between the two extensions, each of the two extensionshaving a free end extending away from the first surface of the flange,the free end having a flare in a direction opposite of the other of thetwo extensions, and a coupling member extending from the second surfaceof the flange.
 2. The wrapper of claim 1, wherein the free end of eachof the two extensions has a taper such that the slot between the freeend of each of the two extensions is widened by the taper.
 3. Thewrapper of claim 1, wherein the two extensions are made of an elasticmaterial such that the free ends of each of the two extensions arecapable of deflecting inwardly during normal operational tensioning. 4.The wrapper of claim 1, wherein the two extensions include a rib alongat least a portion of a length of the each of the two extensions suchthat the two extensions are stiffened.
 5. The wrapper of claim 4,wherein the ribs extends from the free end to the flange.
 6. The wrapperof flange 1, wherein the flange includes a hub, the hub being centeredin the flange.
 7. The wrapper of claim 6, wherein a plurality of theribs emanate radially outward from the central hub on the second surfaceof the flange.
 8. The wrapper of claim 1, wherein the flange and theextensions are of a polymeric material and the flare of each of the twofree ends is selected in a range of 3 to 15 degrees.
 9. The wrapper ofclaim 1, further comprising a motorized drive coupled to the flange bythe coupling member.
 10. The wrapper of claim 9, wherein the motorizeddriver is a drill.
 11. The wrapper of claim 9, wherein the motorizeddriver is an electric screwdriver.
 12. The wrapper of claim 9, whereinthe motorized driver is reversible.
 13. The wrapper of claim 1, whereinthe coupling member has a hexagonal cross-section.
 14. The wrapper ofclaim 1, wherein the coupling member is of a metal and is press-fit intothe flange, the flange being formed of a polymer.
 15. The wrapper ofclaim 1, wherein the coupling member is molded into the flange duringthe die casting of the flange.
 16. A bandage rewrapper for rewrappingbandages, comprising a wrapper according to claim 1 and a motorizeddriver coupled to the coupling member of the wrapper.
 17. The bandagerewrapper of claim 16, wherein the coupling member is hexagonal and iscoupled to the motorized driver by a hexagonal chuck.
 18. The bandagerewrapper of claim 17, wherein the motorized driver is abattery-operated electric device.
 19. The bandage rewrapper of claim 18,wherein the free end of each of the two extensions of claim 1 are flaredin a direction away from the other such that the angle between the twofree ends is selected in a range of 3 to 15 degrees, when the bandagewrapper is not being used for rewrapping bandages.
 20. The bandagerewrapper of claim 1, wherein the flange extends radially outward as asubstantially flat disk.